Assembly adopts changes to school budget cont

MAT-SU— The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly agreed Tuesday night to update how the school district budget content is presented. The budget content code was first drafted in 1966. Assembly Member Jim Colver sponsored the ordinance. “Accountability is essential for the $45 million in local property taxes that is currently contributed to fund MAT-SU schools,” Colver wrote in the summary statement.

Colver wrote that the ordinance will help the public understand the contents and changes in the annual school budget. This is the budget format that is required by the State of Alaska, he wrote. “The State requires that school districts in Alaska publish their approved budget in an itemized format. This legislation basically lines up Borough code with the budget content requirements of the State of Alaska.”

The legislation contains several other useful budget tools including a financial plan for years out and a report on the cost of unfunded mandates.

Assembly Members unanimously passed the ordinance, approving several amendments.
The final ordinance was amended and will be posted on the Borough web site under Assembly legislation ordinance 09-168.

Listen to Assembly Member Jim Colver express his intent on the proposed five-year financial plan by clicking the player.